Brisbane’s restaurants take another financial hit due to three-day lockdown

Brisbane’s hospitality sector was only just starting to bounce back from a disastrous 2020. Now the city’s leading restaurateurs have spoken of the lockdown’s dire impact.

Brisbane’s three-day lockdown may have stopped the spread of COVID-19, but it also inflicted more pain on the city’s struggling hospitality industry.

While some restaurant and cafe operators reverted back to offering takeaway as they did at the height of the pandemic, it wasn’t viable for others.

Simon Gloftis, owner of two of Brisbane’s hottest venues, said the 72-hour closure had set him back “five, six weeks”.

SK Steak & Oyster and Hellenika, both located at The Calile in Fortitude Valley, shut on Friday and reopened on Tuesday.

SK Steak & Oyster and Hellenika owner Simon Gloftis reopened both venues on Tuesday after lockdown lifted. Picture: Richard Walker

Mr Gloftis didn’t criticise the government’s rapid lockdown measures but rather said a lot of people didn’t realise the financial impact such decisions had on the hospitality sector.

“It doesn’t tickle, it really hurts,” he told NCA News Wire.

“I won’t make anything for the next five or six weeks.

“But it is what it is.”

Beccofino and Julius pizzerias owner Cordell Khoury agreed.

“We took a hit, absolutely,” he told NCA News Wire, before adding he agreed with the government’s decision to go into lockdown.

“I’d rather three days than three months.”

Beccofino owner Cordell Khoury said the venue was pumping on Thursday night. The next day it was offering takeaway only.

Beccofino was open for less than 24 hours in 2021 when it was forced to temporarily shut.

But Mr Khoury was able to continue to provide a takeaway service to customers.

“It was back to how things had been at the height of restrictions,” he said.

“We were wearing masks in the kitchen, which was a first.

“We were lucky enough that we could still keep working.”

It was a different situation for SK Steak & Oyster and Hellenika.

Brisbane restaurants with indoor areas, like Hellenika, will operate at reduced capacity over the next 10 days. Picture: Sean Fennessy

Mr Gloftis said while closing hadn’t been difficult, reopening was a nightmare.

“You can’t just open the doors,” he said, adding SK Steak & Oyster staff had returned at 6pm on Monday to prepare for the next day’s service.

“We fly fresh seafood in from around the country.

“We got it delivered to the airport at 8am this morning and we opened at 12 o’clock for lunch.”

Mr Gloftis said he hoped the city wouldn’t have to go through something similar again, but if it did, the restaurant sector would cope.

“We’re pretty nimble,” he said.

Mr Gloftis said the venues’ loyal customer base also kept he and his staff going.

“Everyone who had to cancel was looking to rebook, and the people who were booked in this week haven’t cancelled,” he said.

“We’re not coming back to an empty restaurant, we’re coming back to it pumping again.”

Originally published as Brisbane’s restaurants take another financial hit due to three-day lockdown